The List: 19 Apr 1996 (Issue 277)

I Ilenry V (I’(i) (Kenneth Branagh. I‘K. I989) Kenneth Branagh. Derek Jacobi. I’aul Scoficld. I37 mins. A much mtrddier version than the ()Iivier version. both in the scrappy turmoil of the battle scenes and in the tempering of 1est jingoism with an appreciation of the human cost of conflict. I’ortrayrng the young king as a carew‘orn. rather strllen warrior. the filth seems to offer a more Complex reading of the ten. Iiife' Adam Smith.

I Hollywood And The Great Stars Iatr Riiitoul starts the St Brides liilm Festival by introducing this affectionate feature on the stars from the silents to sorind era. Iidinburgh: St Bride's.

I The Human Cannonball ( 12) (Silvano Agtv'dl. Italy. I995) Bruno Walkow itch. I’aolo Agosti. Severino Saltarelli. 35 Illllls. A labour of love by veteran director Agostr. following a man who is seduced by the free spirits of the circus when he takes a job as a human canrronball. Italian I’ilm I-‘cstival. (ilasgow: (ll-'I'. Iidinbuigh: I‘iliirhousc, I I Thought It Was love But It Was A Carriage (PG) (Massimo Troisi. Italy. I99I ) Massimo Troisi. Francesca .\'eri. Angelo ()ilando. I()9 miris. Two long‘ttmc lovers try to readdress their relationship. A sentimental ode to Iov e in many gtrises by the star of If l’mtiiin Italian I‘llltl Festival. (ilasgow' (il-‘I. Iidinbuigh' l‘ilnihouse I In The Bleak Midwinter ( l 5i ( Keriiierli Branagh. I'K. I995) Michael Maloney. Julia Sawalha. Richard Briers 99mins. A group of actors rrndergo individual voyages of self- discovery while rehearsing a low -budget version of Hamlet. It sounds like his \IL' hell. but there are some poignant moments and plenty of one- Iiner's to win over the most hardened Bianagh cynic. I‘ife—-: .\'cw l’icture House.

I Jefferson In Paris ( I3) ( lames Ivory. I'S. I995) Nick .\'olte. (ireta Scacchr. 'I’handie Newton. I-Il) iiiins. Merchant I\oiy ‘s take on the third American Presidents years as Ambassador in Paris has the Iiigli production values we‘ve come to expect. but the narratives pace is far too slack. Iilsew'here he may have reckoned ‘all men are created equal" but that didn't stop him. the frlrtt alleges. having an affair with one of his

I Lamerica (I’(i) l(il;tlllll Amelro. Italy. I995) linrico |.o \‘ciso. \Iichele I’lacido. I’iio Milkario. l25 nuns. Two Italian con artists go to Albania to set tip a fake company and glean go\ eirtirtent subsidies. A deeply moving study that confronts the chaos of the new Iiuiope. ltaliari I'IIIII Festival. (‘ilasgow' (il-‘I‘. Iidinhurgh: lillllllltllls‘c. I leaving [as Vegas i I s) ( Mike t-‘iggis. t'S. I995) Nicolas (Eige. Iilrsabcth Shire. Julian Sands. Il() rniiis. Sacked from his job. Ben ((‘agc) drives to [as Vegas with the sole intention of drinking himself to death. but during his descent comes across hooker Scra (Shire ). another lost soul. I‘lfizlis‘s neon drenched movie captures the irresponsible euphoria and mental pain of alcoholism from a strbiective viewpoint. while the astonishing tx'ifoimaiices by the leads help it transcend the surface tawdirness and delve deep into underly mg emotions. (ilas'gow: ()deon. Iidiriburgh' ()deon. Strathclydc‘ ()deon Ayt.

I Libera ( I5) ( I’appr ('orsicato. Italy. I993) Iaia I‘orte. Nintii Biiischetta. (‘rrstina Honadro. S5 mins. A three-part madcap coiricdy that has a hint of Almodovai about it. Izacli story concerns a worrian and her broken dreams. set against a flavoisorric portrait of Naples Italian I'llltl liestrval. (ilasgow; (il'l' Iidriibiirgh: I'rlmhouse. I A Little Princess ( I’(i) (Alfonso ( 'riarori. I’S. I995) lileanor Bron. Liam (‘unnrnghaiiL Liesel Mattltew s 97 turns Young Sara is forced to leave her [‘ll\ rlegcd life in India for a \‘ew York girls' boarding school when WWI breaks out When her father is reported iiirssing-iii action. she is subjected to the cruelty of sclioolruistrcss \Iiss Minchin A itio\ ic “Illl a sense of real magic and love of storytelling beautifully designed and intelligently acted. (ilasgow: .\I(i.\Is. Borders: I’a\i|ion Stratliclyde: ()deon Ayr

| l I rnins. ()ne of Bill lioisyth's most sure-footed ventures. and orte in wluch his eye for charm balances with his love for whrrnsy. An ambitious executive of art American oil company is sent to buy an entire Scottish town for a future drilling project. but soon finds himself falling in love with the place. while being hoodw inked by the :ommrrnity. Iidinburgh: Iiilrnhouse.

I La Madre Muerte ( IS) (Juauina Bajo l'lloa. Spain. I993) Kan'a Iilejaldc. Ana Alvarez. Lio. l07 niins. A burglar who kills a woman in front of her child meets the girl years later. Mrrte and traumatised by the event. she is kidnapped by Irirn and enters a bizarre. guilt-ridden menage-a- trois also involving his girlfriend. Ambiguity and a creepy gothic mood dominate a film whose incredible visuals match the rottenriess at the story's core. See review. (‘ilasgowz (if-"I".

I The Manchurian Candidate ( I 5) (John I‘rankenheimer. l.'S. I902) Frank Sinatra. Laurence Ilarvey. Angela Lansbrir'y. Janet Leigh. l2(i ruins. In his most convincing screen role. Ilarvey plays a Korean war hero brainwashed by the communists. who becomes a paw-rt in the sinister mission planned for him on his return home. Brilliant political satire-curri-thirllei‘. with the cast in great form and a staggerineg inventive plot clearly and grippineg unravelled. It damn well works and surprises iii a way that so few frlrns do anymore. (ilasgow: (il-‘I‘.

I Me And The King ( 12) (Lucio (Iarrdino. Italy. I995) Laura Moi ante. I-"r‘anco Nero. Alztiri'a I-‘iume (iarelli. 85 rnins. A wartime tale of romantic intrigue set in the upstaii's/downstait's world of a country manor during the summer of I943. IIisrory rendered in touchineg human terms. Italian l‘rlm I-"estival. (‘ilasgowz (il-‘l'. Iidinburgh: Iiilmhouse.

I The Meter Reader ( IS) (Stefano Incerti. Italy. I995) Antonio luorio. Roberto l)e Francesco. Iilodie Tieccani. 7X ruins. Like l'S indie II('(II'\'. this prime example of the Neopolitan new wave explores the Ionliness and alienation of an overweight inspector who lives at home with his parents. Italian Film I'estival. (ilasgow: (il-‘I'. Iidinburgh: I‘iliiihouse.

I Mighty Aphrodite ( l5) (Woody Allen. I'S. I995) Woody Allen. Mira Sor vino. IIelena Boriham (‘artcit 95 mrns. Sports writer Lenny (Allen) and his busy art dealer wife (Bonham ("arter ) adopt a baby. but when the kid starts to show unusually high intelligence. dad goes searching for the real mother -- a lltlllC-Ititrhtlglll hooker and porn actress (Sorvino). ()scar- winning Sorvino is the best thing in the movie. even if her role is rather dubious. but Woody 's a bit long in the tooth for his part. I'lllllly. but a little tired. See lC\ iew. (ilasgow: ()deon Iidinburgh: (‘amco. l'(‘I.

her dreary esistence by the enigmatic Kar'yo. an agent for the government's most secretive undercover organistaion. and pretty soon she's a topnotch assassin. Sti'athclyde: I‘(‘l liast Kilbr'ide.

I Open Doors I’m/tr rI/H'Ilr‘ ( l5) ((ittttlllt Aurelio. Italy. I990) (iian Maria Volonte. linniori liaritasticlrini. I08 mirrs. Sweaty corrrtroom drama set during the Mussolini era. with excellent work from \'olonte as a humanitarian itrdge trying to rescrre a guilty man from the gallows on grounds of insanity. Italian Film Festival. (ilasgow: (iI’I‘. Iidirihut‘gh: I-"ilmhouse. I Othello ( I3) (()liver l’arkei. l‘S/I iK. I995) Laurence I-‘ishburne. Kenneth Branagh. Irene Jacob. IZ-I mins. A sexier stab at Shakespeare — director I’arker' reckons the story is art erotic thriller — with I'Is'lll‘lllllL‘ a magnetic presence as the Moor w hose iealousies bring tragedy to his new irrarr'iage. As Iago. Branain is allowed one too many asides to the camera. but succeeds in making the audience complicit with the plot. Lively and accessible. (‘eiitialt MacRobert.

I Our Relations (I ‘) (Ilarry Lachman. I'S. I930) 05 mins. Laurel and Hardy play two respectable guys who have to cope with their irresponsible twin brothers in one of their best. funniest outings. I5alkirk-horn James I-‘inlayson is the down-trtxlden support. Iidiribuigh: St Bride's.

I The Pebble And The Penguin it ') (I)on Blutlr. I'S. I995) With the voices of Martin Short. James Belushi. Tiiu Curry. 7-) ruins. The director of All Dogv (in '1}; [It’tll'r‘ll and Ari xI/Itr’l'ft'rlll Iiii/ presents another animated animal feature with musical interludes that will keep the youngsters happy for a while. .\'ice boy penguin wants to woo nice girl penguin with a pebble (er. yeah?) brrt nasty penguin gets in the way. Borders: Roxy.

I Periera Claims ( I5) (Roberto I‘aenza. Italy. I995) Marcello Mastr‘ioairni. Daniel Auteuil. Stefano I)ionisi. 10! mins. Based on Antonio 'l‘abucchr's novel. this is a heart-warming clash of generations between an ageing intellectual and the leader of a group of young idealists set against the political upheaval of Iiuiope in the late I93()s Italian Iiilm Festival. (ilas‘gow‘. (il-‘l' lidrnbtu‘gh: Iiilrnhouse.

I Persuasion it') (Roger Mitchell. t‘K. ms) Amanda Root. If)? mins. (liven the resurgence of interest iti Jane Austen, it was only a matter of trrne before this BB(‘ frlrii ruadc it out into the cinemas. Set itist after the Napoleonic War. the stoi y centres on sensible Anne Iilliot whose family moves to Bath w hen forced into debt. An elegant adaptation. Iidinbuigli: l‘iliiihouse. I-ife: Adam Smith.

I The Piano ( l5) (Jane (‘ampion. Australia/New Zealand. I993) Holly Hunter. Sarii Neill. Harvey Keitel. Ill) mins. Jane ('aiiipron's masterpiece follow s mute Scotswoiiran Ada (Iluntei‘) as she travels to I9tlr century New /.caland with her piano and daughter to enter into an arranged marriage. Soon she begins a passionate and erotic affair with her illiterate neighbour as the means of regaining her treasured instrument. Irnpeccable performances lift this highly charged piece to the realms of classic crnerria. undoubtedly one of the best films of the 90s. Iidinburgh: I'ilirihouse.

I The Pink House ( l5) ( Vanna I’aolr. Italy. I995) (irulia Bosclir. Jim \an der Woride. Radovan Lukavski. 9(i irriiis. A much praised iorrtance w lrtcli follow s a young couple fioiii Italy to a small (‘Iech town. delighting all the way in the power of architecture. Italian I‘ilm I:C\Il\‘£tl (ilasgow: (il’l'. Iidinbuigh: Iiilrnliouse I Point Break ( l5) (Kathryn Bigelow. I'S.

l99l ) Keanu Ree\es. I’atrick Sway/c. (iary Busey. Lori I’etty. lit) Illllls. Reeves is the eager young IJBI recirirt on the trail of a group of

Wm masked bank robbers who are known to be surfers. Bigelow tackles cliches of buddy partnerships. macho bullshit and thriller shoot outs with fresh energy. creating a terrific movie that has one foot in reality. the other in an absurdist world Ildruhirrgli. ('arneo.

ll Psycho r t5) (Alfred Hitchcock. t s. moor Anthony Perkins. Janet Leigh. \'era Miles. John (iavrn. Martin Balsam. John Mclntrre l()9 niins llitch‘s riiisogynistrc iriasteiprece has a young secretary take off to lircksville with a bagfiil of her boss's nroney. I'nfortuuately for her she :hoos‘es to put tip at the Bates' Motel. run by that